Month: September 2016

25 years old, 5ft9, a degree in optometry, and a charming smile, Raquel Pelissier is our new Miss Universe Haiti 2016.

Born and raised in Haiti, Raquel is passionate about aerial skills (acrobatics hanging from a fabric), she practices cross fit regularly, and enjoys cooking and reading on her free time. She is currently finishing her master’s degree in scientific research, her love for Haiti pushed her to apply for the Miss Haiti pageant to accomplish her life long dream of being able to represent her country and will do so at the Miss Universe pageant in the Philippines in January.

10 questions with Miss Universe Haiti 2016

What incited you to apply for miss haiti ?I chose to apply for the Miss Haiti pageant because I wanted to represent my country. I realized that Haiti is the foundation of the woman I am today. I am Haiti. Winning a crown is my way of giving back to the land that bore me since it gives me the opportunity to expose its colors and culture abroad. I want to change the way the rest of the world sees us and make a good impact.

Who inspires you?I am truly inspired by an author who fights for protocol and values in the Haitian society. Her name is Galy and I have the honor to be her daughter. I admire her so much that I want to continue what she started and pass on everything she had thought me for a better education in the society.

What are some challenges you encountered during the pageant?One of the challenges I encountered in the pageant was, having to be on my heels sometimes at 5 am and looking pretty. Those moments were truly those which made me realized not only that my goal was not easy but also that I was determined enough to make sacrifices to reach it.

Another challenge is to always be ready. Most of the time when they were filming us, we only had one shot so we had to make sure to give our best.

What are some of the best moments you shared during the competition?My two favorite moments were the first and last day of the pageant. The first day because it was a day full of excitement during which I met all the candidates that have been selected for the competition and the last day because it was the day I realized that participating in Miss Haiti 2016 was the best choice I have ever made.

How was/is your diet as a miss haiti contestant? Any diet or fitness tips you can share with us?I wouldn’t say I’m on a diet I have just adopted a lifestyle about four years which consists of eating healthy and working out around 8-9 hours a week. However, now that I am going to compete internationally I have to go on a strict diet and add more cardio to my routine so as to lose a few more pounds. My tip is to always be aware of what you are putting into your system. Read or do your research because nothing is more valuable than health.

How were your relationship with the other contestant?During the pageant, I got along pretty well with all the contestants. I am truly grateful to have met all these dedicated and strong women with a great vision and love for the country. I never felt like I was competing against them. My only competitor has always been myself.

Have you felt at some point of the competition that someone else might win?When I applied for Miss Haiti, I was aiming the Miss Universe Crown. I knew I fit the international standards to represent Haiti in this pageant since Miss Universe is about being confidently beautiful, elegant and classy. Even though, I never felt threatened by anyone, I had recognized the strong contestants of the pageant and I have learned a lot from them which gave me a stronger reason to focus and do my best at all times.

As a contestant, what are your thoughts on the miss haiti organization? And what do you think can be done in order to improve the organization and the process?I personally think that the Miss Haiti Organization did an amazing job. It is tough work handling 20 young women. Behind the scenes, there was good energy and team spirit but also moments of tears and tension and they always kept things in order at all times so they really deserve the credit for that. For improvement, I would propose to add to the agenda more hours public speaking, protocol classes and runway so as to make a greater impact.

What’s next for you as miss universe haiti? When and where will you go to the miss universe competition?I will represent Haiti in the 65th edition of Miss Universe in Philippines in January. Before that, I am also going to Bolivia to represent Haiti in Reina hispanoamericana in November.

What can we expect from you as miss universe haiti? Any special project or vision you can share with us ?My project for Haiti consists of teaching the youth manners and values. I also want to fight for community service to be included at school so that everyone can contribute for a cleaner and better Haiti.